Salvation Is Jesus

Matthew 27 - Part b

The second half of Matthew 27 briefly describes the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Below is a list of all the things that Matthew mentions Jesus going through. As you read the list, consider the fact that at any moment, Jesus had the power to stop what was happening, but for our sake did nothing.

• He was flogged (v. 26)
• He was stripped of his clothes (v. 28)
• He was mocked by the soldiers who put a scarlet robe around him and placed a crown of thorns on his head (v. 28-29)
• He was spit on (v. 30)
• His head was repeatedly struck with a staff (v. 30)
• Jesus was beaten so badly that he had no physical strength left to carry his cross (v. 32)
• He was crucified (v.35)
• The soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothing (v. 35)
• He was mocked while dying by robbers on each side of him who were also being crucified (v.38 & 44)
• He was mocked while dying by people passing by (v. 39-40)
• He was mocked while dying by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders (v. 41-43)

Sadly, I have been told by people who call themselves Christians that, though they believe in Jesus, there are still many paths to God that are just as valid. But the scriptures tell us that the suffering and death of Jesus is the penalty for our sin which Jesus bore for all those who put their faith in him. The terrible suffering and death of Jesus leaves no room for multiple paths to God. If a person can find God through any path they feel like, then Christ’s death is useless.

Verses 45-54 tell us of the death of Jesus on the cross:

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!“

Just before Jesus dies, he quotes the first line of Psalm 22, which is a Messianic prophecy detailing Jesus’ death, hundreds of years before the actual crucifixion. The moment Jesus died, God’s Justice was satisfied and the temple curtain (representing the separation of man from God because of sin) was torn in half. Then supernatural earthquake occurred and people rose from the dead and appeared to many people. All these things made the soldiers who just killed Jesus realize that he truly was the Son of God.

The chapter closes with the details of Jesus’ burial and the Pharisees working with Pilate to guard the tomb to guarantee that no one would try to come and steal Jesus’ body and claim that he rose from the dead.